Mixed marriage gives Catholicinsight into Reformed Church

Thursday, October 17, 2013 5:01 AM

From www.coloniereformed.org: "In the Reformed view, the final authority is the Bible - known as the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. The Reformed perspective is centered in the overwhelming love of God toward us. We believe that God is three in one - God the father, God the son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. We believe that we are saved by grace alone through faith, not by what we think or do to earn God's favor. Our good works don't earn our salvation, but are a way to thank God for this free gift of salvation. The Reformed Church in America celebrates two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper."

"Sometimes, we are a little confused about our Church," said Anne Snyder, a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany. "I think it's interesting being a person of faith at this point in time, because everything's changing."

Mrs. Snyder was referring to the landscapes in all Christian churches. An "honorary member" of the Community Reformed Church of Colonie, she's been married to a member of that denomination for more than four decades.

She's also a member of the diocesan Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and serves on the board of the Interfaith Story Circle of the Tri-City Area, which ministers through storytelling. She makes reports to the ecumenical commission about the activities of the story circle and attends events at Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Protestant houses of worship.

"We come together with people of all the different faith traditions," Mrs. Snyder said. "I see it as a real positive movement. I think the commission has come a long way [and] has made inroads.

"When I grew up [in the 1940s and 1950s]," she noted, "you weren't supposed to go into Protestant churches."

Openness to other faiths, however, was normal in her house. Both her grandmother and her aunt married Protestants. When she and her husband, Bob, wed, he agreed to raise their children Catholic in order to marry in the Church.

The Snyders attend each other's churches on occasion and mostly make amusing observations about the similarities and differences between religious services, remarking on which community stands and kneels more and which one sings more.

Mrs. Snyder noted that abstaining from communion is easier at her husband's church, because congregants receive bread and wine seated instead of lining up.

"It's similar to the Roman Catholic service," Mr. Snyder said of his church, "but there are more rules [in Catholicism]."

Other than theological differences surrounding the Eucharist - "We consider it symbolic," Mr. Snyder explained, while Catholics believe the Eucharist actually becomes the body and blood of Christ when it is consecrated - the Snyders don't talk much about what separates their faith traditions.

"I think we accept each other's faith as it is," Mrs. Snyder said. "I would never presume to speak for my husband's community."

Mrs. Snyder is called an "active adherent" at Community Reformed Church, which she says is "a blessing. It's a wonderful community of believers."

Mrs. Snyder is also president of Blessed Sacrament's senior club and sorts clothes at the parish's thrift store. She's a member of the Thomas Merton Society of the Capital Region, which encourages knowledge of the works and meditation techniques of Thomas Merton, the Catholic writer and mystic.